Lewis & Short

prō-scindo, scĭdi, scissum, 3, v. a., to tear open in front, to rend, split, cleave, cut up, cut in pieces (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: ferro proscindere quercum, Luc. 3, 434: piscem, App. Mag. p. 300, 18 and 20: spumanti Rhodanus proscindens gurgite campos, Sil. 3, 449: vulnere pectus, Stat. Th. 10, 439: fulgure terram, Just. 44, 3, 6.
    2. B. In partic., in agriculture, of the first ploughing, to break up the land: rursum terram cum primum arant, proscindere appellant; cum iterum, offringere dicunt, quod primā aratione glebae grandes solent excitari. Varr. R. R. 1, 29, 2; 1, 27, 2: terram transversis adversisque sulcis, Col. 3, 13, 4: priusquam ares, proscindito, Cato ap. Plin. 18, 19, 49, § 176: bubulcum autem per proscissum ingredi oportet, the trench, furrow, Col. 2, 2, 25; 3, 13, 4; 11, 2, 32.
      Poet., in gen., for arare, to plough: rorulentas terras, Att. ap. Non. p. 395, 22 (Trag. Rel. v. 496 Rib.): validis terram proscinde juvencis, Verg. G. 2, 237: terram pressis aratris, Lucr. 5, 209: ferro campum, Ov. M. 7, 119.
      1. 2. Transf., to cut through, to cleave, furrow (poet.): rostro ventosum aequor. Cat. 64, 12: remo stagna, Sil. 8, 603.
  2. II. Trop., to cut up with words, to censure, satirize, revile, defame: aliquem, Ov. P. 4, 16, 47: equestrem ordinem, Suet. Calig. 30: aliquem foedissimo convicio, id. Aug. 13: carminibus proscissus, Plin. 36, 6, 7, § 48: aliquem famoso carmine, Suet. Vit. Luc.; Val. Max. 5, 3, 3; 8, 5, 2.